Difference between MDMA & LSD

The difference between MDMA and LSD is a debatable topic. MDMA induces only minimal and relatively weak alterations of consciousness compared with LSD, consistent with the primary controlled study to conduct a head-to-head comparison of the drugs. These are both newly utilized in psychiatric research to treat PTSD and mental disorders respectively. However, differences within the acute effects of those two acutely psychoactive compounds haven’t been compared directly, within the double-blind procedure, 28 healthy participants received one dose of LSD (0.1 mg), MDMA (125 mg), D-amphetamine (40 mg), and placebo during a randomized order.

Each drug session was separated by a period of a minimum of 10 days. The researchers found that it produced significantly higher ratings of any drug effect, good drug effect, bad drug effect, and ego dissolution compared with MDMA and D-amphetamine. It also resulted in greater ratings of withdrawal, inactivity, emotional excitation, and anxiety compared with MDMA and D-amphetamine. MDMA and D-amphetamine, on the opposite hand, increased ratings of attention and extraversion compared with Lysergic acid diethylamide.

Effects:

LSD has far more pronounced and overwhelming subjective effects than MDMA even when it is employed at a comparatively high dose and at a moderate dose. There’s a significantly greater experience of ego dissolution with LSD compared with MDMA. There’s also a greater risk of hysteria with LSD. However, there can also be larger positive effects like feelings of bliss, only three participants had previously used LSD and eight participants had previously used MDMA, but 96% of the participants were ready to correctly identify that they had taken LSD on the day of administration.

On a physiological level, both these, D-amphetamine all increased

• pupil size
• vital sign
• pulse
• Blood heat compared with the placebo.

The researchers also discovered that MDMA but not LSD or D-amphetamine raised plasma concentrations of oxytocin. Only single dosage levels were compared. A similar comparison between different psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline is warranted. Both LSD and psilocybin have the potential to become medications.